I have been thinking of purchasing a new gun in the next few weeks,and It would be a semi auto in 20 gauge If I do decide to purchase.I have a few in mind.I have been looking into the
-Rem 1187 21" barrel/Mobu
-Mossberg International SA-20 - Turkey
-Hatsan Escort 26" barrel/Mo I know this gun well and I really like it,as my father shoots one and I own the pump.
I am looking for a semi with regular stock and a decent price,as It is only going to be a turkey hunting setup.I am leaning towards the Mossberg if I can find one locally,maybe at a gun show this spring.
What do you consider a decent price? Do you want the ability to run an optic?
I like a rail,I don't really want to run anything but fiber optics and I am not going to spend more than $750.00 Canadian on anything as I have plenty,But the next few months are great for gun shows and some real good deals on brand new guns at these shows,so I am sure I can find something that peaks my interest,if not I am ok with that too,as I have a handful of 20 gauge turkey guns in pump and single shots,I am just interested in maybe adding a semi as well.
I would look at a Weatherby SA-08 as well. Supposedly made in same factory as the Mossberg, but some folks prefer the Weatherby-they are similar guns as is the Weatherby SA-459 which a lot of guys on here have and love (I do too, but it has a pistol grip). All similar actions. Also, Weatherby has a better rep with customer service-just a reputation, I have had no experience with either.
Handled the weatherby's at work and I would definitely purchase one,I am just looking for a short barrel and at least half camo,I have never seen a camo weatherby up here other than the pistol grip and I just purchased a pistol grip sxp long beard which I like and last year I built the 870 20 gauge compact with the sureshot grip.I am hoping I can find a real good deal this weekend on something,If not.I am not going to worry or over spend,I had a 1187 21" barrel last year for $700 brand new,I hesitated,walked around and went had breakfast,went back and it was sold,for 625.00.I was upset with myself as I was going to buy it and new from the minute I seen it but I tried to talk myself out of it.
Stoeger M3020
Franci affinity!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
SA-20
Can't say about the 1187 but I have a 1100 youth model 20 gauge and that thing seems a bit heavy to me. It weights, with sling and 3 3inch shells, 8.2 pounds. The SA459 with sling, shells and scope weighs in at 7.1 pounds. I've hunted 3 years with this gun and am very satisfied with it.
If I purchase one,I am not looking for a pistol grip for this gun.I didn't see anything but overpriced junk last Saturday at the gun show.I am going on 11th for a 4 hour drive and may see what bass pro has,I am not interested in anything but the three I listed and if I can't find the mossberg sa,I may wait until I find it,or next spring.
I have the SA 20 Turkey thug and it my favorite turkey gun of the three that I have. It shoots great with a Carlsons 575 and weighs 5.5 pounds. The gun is like carrying a feather around. It comes with the fiber optic sights and the rail. Look at SA 20 Turkey model 75790 . Great gun!
I'd go with the Mossberg SA20. It's really light and fits the credentials you are wanting. It's a great feeling shotgun. Very similar to the Weatherby autos, excluding the bolt lock button on the trigger guard. The stock choke looks good, as it's knurled. Not sure what constriction or threads it is. I'd be happy with one for sure.
I have been looking at a semi the last month or so,I did finally locate a mossberg sa 20 and for a good price but I have been hesitant to pull the trigger yet as I have been looking at others,my budget is $1500 and under though I'd rather keep as much cash in my piggy bank as possible to feed my tss #7 habit the next few months.
I was looking hard at the 1187 but they seem to have been dumped,at least the camo ones.My father recently purchased a really nice black synthetic model with the 21" barrel that was barely shot.He is happy.I then switched my pursuit to something else I have been reading on a handful of models and was liking what I was reading on the franchi compact 24" model as I can get the black synthetic for a good price,however It seems it does not like federal 3" tss shells or longbeards,so It is out of running for turkey hunting.
I also am doing a little research tonight on the stoeger 3020. I was at first sold on a short barrel but have opened up to 26" and under for this purchase.
Most of these guns are Internet purchase as I can't locate them locally.I would like a nice camo finish,mainly bottomland but I can go with anything,as I can send it to have dipped after this spring season.
I have two of the three you are considering - 11/87 and SA-20. I've owned the 11/87 for years, so needless to say I am way more familiar with it over the Mossberg. The only gripe I have on the 11/87 is that it is heavy, other than that it shoots very well and has been reliable. The Mossberg SA-20 Turkey is lighter, but not as light as they advertise. My SA-20 is proving to be bit fussy about chokes, but I don't think that's a common characteristic of them. The Mossy also seems to have the edge in fit, finish seems about equal. Just like the Remington it has ejected every round I've run thru it, though I have not shot it very much. Most autos seem to cycle better after a brief break-in, but both have been great since shell number 1. The sights the SA-20 came with were in my opinion junk and were promptly replaced with Truglo Pro Series. My plan is to start the season with the SA-20, but if I was hunting for grocery money I'd carry the Remington.
11-87 Compact. Great gun! Light as a feather (IMO)
I have of course the Mossberg SA 20 Turkey thug and as I said earlier it will flat out put a hurting on a gobbler! Since you originally posted this you have talked about a Stoeger 3020 which I purchased a couple months ago. The one I have is the new turkey edition model # 31871. This one is fully camo in Mossy oak obsession. The gun is equipped with a ghost ring adjustable rear sight and the front sight is a tactical type fiber optic. The gun is also drilled and Tapped for an optic sight if you choose. I had no intention of buying a gun that day but I picked it up and it just felt right! The turkey edition has a 24 inch barrel. If I was looking at the Stoeger 3020 this is the one I would look at as a dedicated turkey gun. Again I shoot the Carlson.575 and Federal TSS. The gun shoots great and has cycled every shell that I have put through it. The big difference of course is the SA 20 is gas driven and the Stoeger is inertia driven. I do not have a Hatsan Escort 20 gauge but a guy I hunt with brought one up Saturday to pattern it. It's new for 2020 the PS semi auto turkey gun. It was in Bottomland camo and was slick! The gun has adjustable front and rear fiber optic sights and has a cantilever rail if you want to mount an optic, I had never seen one but was impressed with the way it looked and shot. He had walked into a buds gun shop and bought it. Again I don't know much about them but was impressed with what I seen Saturday. As far as the Mossberg or Stoeger, you couldn't go wrong either way in my opinion!
I have a semi 20 hatsan,its been very very good and a pump in 20 and its been rock solid.I just want to add another gun and after opening up on what I would buy I can't seem to find any guns I am interested in other than the mossberg. I am going to a gun show this Saturday and hopefully I see something that I like I was in a rush but have cooled on buying "right" away as I am going to wait until I find the gun that I know I want 110%. We just do not have the selection that you do down there,we have like 36 million people.you have over 350 million.
Our distributors only bring in select few and basically once a year.I had my dealer check on 6 different guns for me the last week and there are 0 in the country and they have no idea on when they will or will be here.It sucks trying to find "turkey" guns and left handed rifles in certain calibers,main reason why I shoot lever actions.
I am in Canada as well and recently picked up a Weatherby SA459 camo 20 gauge.
Pretty sweet little gun for $700 plus tax. I was leaning towards an SX3 20ga but for
half the money it is a bargain. Really like the pistol grip and camo pattern and so
far it seems to cycle flawlessly.
Willy
I actually went ahead and purchased a Weatherby sa-459 in 12 gauge yesterday for 650.00 plus tax and shipping.It was a steal and since I already have a ton of 20 gauge turkey guns,I added another 12 gauge instead,I didn't have a pistol grip 12 gauge turkey gun and couldn't pass it up for the price.
I have the SA08 compact which I really like and shoots good ic 555 hevi13 #7. The only drawback is there are not many accessories and if you want a scope it is not drilled and tapped. The stock can not be changed to an adult size stock I was told that by weathrby and Mossberg won't interchange so would recommend an adult stock. If only going to use for Turkey and nothing else your good to go.
Do your research and find out if you want a gas gun or inertia gun.. Theres more gas operated guns than inertia. Inertia your pretty much limited to Benelli, Franchi, Stoeger, and Retay is making a 20 gauge now. For a gas gun theres way more options to choose from. I will say if your looking at a stoeger go ahead and invest the money in at least a franchi.
I looked into franchi's but from what I have read they seem to have issues cycling the only 2 shells I would put into them.I am not interested in finding out if I got lucky,nice looking gun otherwise.I already made a decision on a gun for this year.
If I had to choose from that list, it would be the 1187 and I'm not a big fan of it in 20.
I had zero issues with my Franchi cycling the Federals. I sold it to get an M2 as I just really wanted another Benelli.
I wasn't going to take a $1300 dollar gamble that the franchi would cycle the only two brand of shells that I was going to feed it,not worth the gamble.I would have purchased one if not the reports from multiple people that they had issues with those shells,I assume it may have been because they were new and not broken in,still I was not willing to take that chance with so many other guns out there.